HF dead blow hammer durability?

[back2class]

Wondering about them. I killed an old Snap-On dead blow hammer last week. It was old, and I ended up knocking the plastic off the head pounding a rusted shaft out. I did not mind a bit as it meant a new one. But I am not a real fan of snap-on for this kind of stuff and have no use at all for shiney new snap-on.

The dead blows I own are all small...like 1-2lb. All are junk of unknown maker, and the handles bend when I work them hard. When the SO came apart I realized how simple these things are, and except for the handle, can't imagine a lick of difference in quality or usability between the SO and HF........except perhaps the handle core (thickness, type of steel). All they are is some lead shot in a stamped mild steel sheetmetal container encased in plastic. What suprised me is considering how hard I was whaling on this thing, I expected the handle to bend like my smaller junk ones. It stayed straight.
Any of you non tool polishers who have HF dead blows, have you experienced the handles bending under real heavy pounding/abuse? They seem to be rated highly, but I have no use for them if they are only up to typical homeowner use.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Actually, if used daily or heavily, Snap-on is your best bet as in most cases, if you are on good turns with your driver, the DB hammer will be replaced under warranty and you will be given a new one.

If used occasionally or for light to medium projects , the HF dead blows are a great bargain. I have seen them blow apart, but usually only when used improperly or on a job they were not suited for.

I have several of the HF orange units and they work superbly, but if I needed it repeatedly day in a day out, I'd go Snap-On if only for warranty.

 

[Zrexxer]

I tell ya what, I'm as far from a HF fan as they come, but I just can't deny the value of those deadblows. When you catch them on sale they're sometimes 4 or 5 bucks for the smaller sizes, and I've never been able to destroy one. They're supposedly lifetime warranty too, but I've never had to take them up on it.

 

[lucascurd]

My 2.5lb HF dead blow has been treating me very well. However, it is chipping around the edges and dimpling in some places. But for $8 who am I to argue. Hasn't broke yet but I don't use it every day.

 

[soob]

Harbor Freight warranties theirs too, don't they? It's probably a lot easier to exchange one from them, too.

 

[MNRZR]

Harbor Freight warranties theirs too, don't they? It's probably a lot easier to exchange one from them, too.

Just checked the HF site and they do have a lifetime warranty.

 

[back2class]

Well, I'm 2 hours from HF, so how they hold up is much more of a concern over warranty. Though warranty is good, because I am sure I will destroy any dead blwo at some point.

 

[Kirbot]

Mines been holding up pretty well.

Beating sharp corners, edges and the like, really tears up the rubber, but I haven't needed to get it replaced yet.

 

[powertrip]

Also they have 20% off coupons.

 

[Racr350]

Best hammers ever made! Well...that may not be true, but they sure are a value. I've had my 3lb dead blow for over 2yrs now and no problems. Even has cuts in it from pounding on sharp corners. I could get several for the price of one SO. And since mine shows no signs of failing yet, that could take a lifetime. So I'm happy.

 

[LawnDart79]

I have an old 2lb black HF deadblow that I've had for 10+ years and it's held up well so far. I also have a smaller newer orange HF deadblow that I'm equally happy with.

I've used both hammers quite a bit.

 

[powertrip]

Stanley compo-cast is also a good hammer. Usa made and not nearly as expensive as snapon.

 

[Altec]

Stanley compo-cast is also a good hammer. Usa made and not nearly as expensive as snapon.

Good option! They have some freaking huge dead blows too... Although a 48 oz Snap-on is $69, and a 52 oz Stanley is $55 (Closest size...). Doesn't strike me as a huge gap.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have ten Staneley Compothane hammers I bought off the Matco truck in the early 80's, they all are cracked and or have exploded due to age. These are from before Matco getting their own private labeled hammers. One of my maintenance techs had a HF deadblow die on the first hit but other guys have them and can't seem to destroy them.

Trusty-Cook may be the way to go.

TheGrooveking

 

[Danglerb]

Snapon is made by (something like) Trusty Cook?

I have about a full set of the HF, but I'd like a metal faced one as well so looking at Nupla (I have one of the fits in your hand dead blows).
http://www.nuplacorp.com/power drives.htm

 

[Altec]

Snapon is made by (something like) Trusty Cook?

I have about a full set of the HF, but I'd like a metal faced one as well so looking at Nupla (I have one of the fits in your hand dead blows).
http://www.nuplacorp.com/power drives.htm

I've used the Nupla black smith hammers. Good stuff. Handles creep me out though... Whose pleasure is it ribbed for?

 

[Olafur]

Wondering about them. I killed an old Snap-On dead blow hammer last week. It was old, and I ended up knocking the plastic off the head pounding a rusted shaft out. I did not mind a bit as it meant a new one. But I am not a real fan of snap-on for this kind of stuff and have no use at all for shiney new snap-on. [...]

A little off topic:
If you are referring to the the shaft from your jack .. judging by the pics you posted a plastic face dead blow is IMHO ineffective tool for the job and probably caused more damage to the shaft than necessary. Too soft.

6 pound "hammer" and copper/brass bar 3/4" in diameter or larger would have been my first choice. And even mild steel bar and a sledge hammer if things turn from bad to worse.

I hope your finger will recover quickly!

$0.2

 

[Sterff]

I have had no issues with my HF dead blows.

 

[greasemonkey44]

^snapon isnt made by trusty cook; the castings are different
i have an orange 4lb dead blow that hasnt died yet; the face is chipping and they were unever out of the box.
if you use it alot youll want a snapon trusty cook or matco if not get a HF they are almost disposable

 

[powertrip]

Snapon is made by (something like) Trusty Cook?

I have about a full set of the HF, but I'd like a metal faced one as well so looking at Nupla (I have one of the fits in your hand dead blows).
http://www.nuplacorp.com/power drives.htm

Stanley makes a metal faced one as well. Usa made. Sorry dont have a link.

 

[back2class]

A little off topic:
If you are referring to the the shaft from your jack .. judging by the pics you posted a plastic face dead blow is IMHO ineffective tool for the job and probably caused more damage to the shaft than necessary. Too soft.

6 pound "hammer" and copper/brass bar 3/4" in diameter or larger would have been my first choice. And even mild steel bar and a sledge hammer if things turn from bad to worse.

I hope your finger will recover quickly!

$0.2

LOL, yeah, same jack.

Dead blow was the final move. That shaft was hit first with PB blaster, the next day in this order...tapped with 18oz a bronze hammer, Started to damage the threads. Switched to wood....shattered. Then shop press. Then to impact to try turning it rather than pushing it. Moved a bit....but the threads ripped off the 1"x14 shaft. Then press...then OUCH. More PB over the week, then 36" pipe wrench to try turning shaft to break loose....still stuck. Then 8lb sledge got it moving. Once it got moving a little, the dead blow came out as it was already a mushroomed mess and no need to make it worse. Then when the dead blow blew up it was the shaft was already flush with the hole, so shop press pushed it out the rest of the way. Ended up having to turn down the threaded shaft ends to to 7/8 and rethread. Well, had a machine shop do it. Now it is good as new.
I wish I had some torches, that woud have made it easier, though it was so stuck, I think the threaded ends would have had to be re threaded no matter what.

How would others have gone about it?
Here is a pic of the shaft. I was honestly not sure it was ever going to come out in one piece.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112207

 

[Olafur]

@back2class
Well - you got the job done!
Torch could have helped. Or bigger shop press.. still it's often difficult to mount things and then comes to play structural strength of other parts and the risk of destroying them.

Your story remind me of my own battle with 400 kg Mercedes Benz truck gearbox few years back. I had to do complete tear down involving a lot of bearing pulling. I only had 10 ton hydraulic puller and 15 ton shop press. (and a torch). Nothing worked. So I had to start grinding and splitting them up using chisels. I ended up re-grinding carbide concrete drill bits and used them to drill into the races of the larger ones. I also ended up in local ER with tip of chisel stuck in my finger. Good times.

So much for "the right tool for the job" .

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I keep a couple of the HF deadblows around and haven't had any issues with them. At the price they cost, I use them any time I'm working on an "unimproved" surface, and keep my Mac in the box. Tear up the HF, who cares? Tear up the Mac, be out of a hammer for a month.

 

[back2class]

Ok, well my only concern was handles bending. The rest I have little doubt durability and performance will be about the same. Seems like that is not an issue with the HF versions and was my only reservations about them now that I have seen how basic the inside of the SO u nit is. Looks like the new Snap-On will be sold off...some cash in pocket and a few HF dead blows in the box to use and abuse.
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Virgil Cain]

I've had both the black and the orange dead blow HF hammers, both about 2lbs. The orange one held up better than the black one. Aside from that, the black hammer stank. It wasn't a terrible hammer, I mean it literally stank. Almost bad enough it make you want to get rid of it on the smell alone. I left it out in the sun on a hot day and most of the stink left. That was a couple of years ago and they may have changed vendors or material so what you buy today may or may not have the stink on it.

The orange 2lbs had held up well and I would by one again.

 

[halfxspaid]

Smashed my 2lb good, they replaced it when I brought it in, no questions.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I was looking at them today and almost got some. I think I will next trip out.....

 

[garfunkle24]

Having seen what they'll warranty, $8 for a lifetime supply of a disposable tool seems like a good deal.

 

[Altec]

I have looked at them a couple times. After the Pass/Fail thread, and this thread, I think I'm gonna pick up a couple as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a few deadblow that I use occassionally. My outlook on them is this.

They are a plastic hammer, they're expendable, good or bad, cheap or expensive. It's not a matter of if they will break, it's a matter of when.

 

[hammlm]

I have a couple of HF Dead Blows and reach for the smaller (1lb?) almost all of the time. Can't compare them to truck brand hammers as I've not owned any.

I have killed a larger one, but I bought it, purpose-specific to build a large (40' x 7') retaining wall. That one lasted three days through the job, but it was toast by the end, mostly because of the abrasion from the concrete wall.

 

[z28snksknr]

I downright ABUSE my HF deadblow hammer, and it's taken it all without complaint.

I'm amazed at the pic of the one that split open - well, I guess I'm more amazed that I don't have a similar picture of mine after the thrashing I've done to it.

 

[rlitman]

Smashed my 2lb good, they replaced it when I brought it in, no questions.

That looks like you took a picture of my old orange SO when it broke (except it split along the top). It got replaced by a pretty red and black one.

Amen to the black ones stinking. I had to keep mine outside for months. Now that they're a few years old, there's no smell any more. The plastic bottom of my magnetic trays had the same smell.
The current generation of orange ones doesn't have that smell, and is non marking. Hopefully mine will break, so I can upgrade.

My metal faced SO deadblow is my favorite hammer. LOVE that thing! Too bad HF doesn't make anything like that.

The Nupla handles scare me too, but after handling some, I've found them kinda comfy. They have a livetime warranty too.

 

[soob]

So just buy two from HF. Now you'll always have a spare.

 

[Altec]

Heads up- Enco has the Stanley Dead Blows on sale!

10oz $14
18oz $17
21oz $20
42oz $30
52oz $40

SLIM

5oz $13
14oz $16
18oz $18
21oz $21

 

[back2class]

Heads up- Enco has the Stanley Dead Blows on sale!

10oz $14
18oz $17
21oz $20
42oz $30
52oz $40

SLIM

5oz $13
14oz $16
18oz $18
21oz $21

Thanks
Just not worth it to me. By the time I sell the 48oz SO replacement for $55 shipped I have about $42. Makes sense with the $10 HF ones, but not the upper-mid price dead blows. Like I said in the first post, if the HF and snap-on are essentialy the same item and same quality..then I will go that route. I am now convinced that in real world usability there is zero difference except $49 more expensive.

 

[Danglerb]

Heads up- Enco has the Stanley Dead Blows on sale!

10oz $14
18oz $17
21oz $20
42oz $30
52oz $40

SLIM

5oz $13
14oz $16
18oz $18
21oz $21

Wow, thats like 4x the reg price of the HF, and around the price of the Nupla.

 

[Hiball]

Ive had pretty good luck with my HF Dead Blows, As other said they dont like sharp edges very well but ive abused the hell out of them. Normally the first thing to fail is that little insert in the head, I did have it fly up in air and hit me in the Head. Ill try and grab some pics of the 3 year old one that finally gave up the other day, I was still using it till i noticed there was little b-b's flying thru the air.

 

[Flatland Dave]

The HF orange dead blows don't last in cold weather. they split like in rlitman's pic.
YRMV

 

[jjjrmx5]

I did have it fly up in air and hit me in the Head. Ill try and grab some pics of the 3 year old one that finally gave up the other day, I was still using it till i noticed there was little b-b's flying thru the air.

I just LOL'd at your unfortunate experiences.
My apologies.


As for the plastic in cold weather, each and every plastic tool has it's limits in extreme cold weather due to brittleness and the nature of the plastic it is made of.

Extreme conditions call for extreme tools (or metal , nylon or rubber faced tools in the cold ) that are capable or performing the task at hand using the best materials.